Originally Posted by
spare_wheel
For $400 I would buy this bike from Nashbar:
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...54_-1___202613
It's currently on sale for ~$398 and has decent alu frame with a 9 speed drive train (sora) and tektro brakes.
Nashbar is owned by Performance and is a large company with a decent reputation.
That does seem like a good deal, but as the link renders to me, the price is $499. Plus only 48cm or 51cm are available, wouldn't work too well if you are bigger, don't know OP's size.